Christmas tree light bulb mounting means



Feb. 4, 1964 w. B. E. KIRSTEN CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHT BULB MOUNTING MEANS Filed Oct. 5, 1959 6 4 7 5%@ as N A l I luw h. A \X 3 6 l 2 w a wa 5 /-7 T TORNE Y United States Patent Ofiice Patented Feb. 1954 3,12%),351 Ci-IPESTMA TREE LiGI'iT EULE MGUNHNG MEANS Walter B. E. Kirsten, 54-59 E. Stith St, Seattle, Wash. Fiied Oct. 5, i959, Ser. No. 844,569 3 Claims. (Cl. 249-40) My invention and discovery relates to a light bulb mounting mechanism.

More particularly, my invention and discovery will be described as it relates to a Christmas [tree light holder comprising a spring clip formed of a base portion with two resilient arms extending in parallel relation and opposite to each other from opposite sides or and at substantial right angles to said base to grip therebetween the cylindrical stem portion of a light bulb socket with the supporting tree limb pressed between the inner side of said base portion of the clip and the bottom of the light bulb socket and with tree needles growing on opposite sides of said limb pressed against opposite sides of the said light bulb socket by said resilient arms in bringing to bear restraining forces on opposite sides of said lamp bulb in maintaining the same in the preferred position, namely upright. Instead of needles the support may take the form or means other than a tree limb, said means having latermly disposed flexible members in place of needles.

Thus, the light bulbs may have a more pleasing and ornamental lighting effect.

It is common practice to illuminate Christmas trees with strings of lights each comprising a flexible conductor carrying a plurality of spaced-apart light globes or bulbs. Such a conductor is usally passed over and around the branches of the tree and the light bulbs hang from the conductor. This leaves all of the light bulbs in a suspended or hanging position and, because these light bulbs are fixed at intervals to the conductor, it restricts the freedom of the user in distributing the lights to the best advantage in the tree. Such arrangement also adds weight to the limbs, which binds them to an unnecessary degree.

My invention overcomes the above stated objections and makes it possible to mount each individual light bulb directly on a branch of a Christmas tree and in a generaiiy upstanding position approximately at right angles to the branch, although it will be understood that the angle at which the bulb is supported wiil vary and can be varied by the user.

An object of my invention and discovery is to provide novel and efiicient devices for mounting and supporting a light bulb on a branch of a Christmas tree, which devices utiiize the needles on the branch from which the bulb is supported to hold the light bulb in a generally upright position or at a desired angle and in which the needles effectively prevent the bulb from turning on a branch or from assuming an undesirable angle. In short, the needles are utilized in my invention to lend stability to the light-holding means.

Another object is to provide Christmas tree light mounting means which is simple in construction, not expensive to manufacture, easy to handle and apply to a Christina tree, safe to use and efficient in holding light bulbs in any position into which they are adjusted.

The above mentioned general objects of my invention and discovery, together with others inherent in the same, are attained by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings throughout which like reference numerals refer to like parts.

FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation of a spring clip constructed in accordance with my invention and adapted for holding a Christmas tree lamp on a Christmas tree;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of said clip looking in the direction indicated by broken line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of said clip taken on broken line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a stamped blank from which said clip is made;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing said clip applied to a fragmentary branch or tree limb of a Christmas tree with a Christmas tree lamp held in said clip and some of the needles growing on opposite sides of the branch gripped between the shank or stem of the lamp and the slip so that they stabilize the lamp in a given position and prevent it from turning on the branch;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, with parts in elevation and parts broken away, taken substantially on broken line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a source of electrical energy of a plug-in type conductor bar specially adapted for use in connection with the Christmas tree lamp holder of my invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of said plug-in type conductor bar;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the plug-in type conductor bar with a fitting on the end of a lamp cord plugged thereinto;

FIG. 10 is a somewhat diagrammatic elevational view showing two of my plug-in type conductor bars attached to a Christmas tree;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of a multiple socket conductor member which can be used instead of the conductor bar shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 10;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of one of the sockets shown in FIG. 11, illustrating the socket as it might appear before the parts thereof are assembled;

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional View of one of said sockets in assembled condition, showing a lower electrical connector plug fully engaged within the socket and an upper connector plug partially within the socket and electrically disconnected;

FIG. 14 is a detached fragmentary perspective view showing wires having pliable strips attached thereto in such a manner that the strips may be gripped within the clip shown in FIGS. 1 to 6;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view somewhat similar to FIG. 6, illustrating the use of the supporting device shown in FIG. 14 in connection with the clip shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.

My Christmas tree light or lamp holder, FIGS. 1 to 6, comprises a U-shaped spring clip 20 having a bottom or base portion 21 and two integral resilient side arms 22 and 23. The side arms 22 and 23 are adapted to receive therebetween and hold a cylindrical lamp-carrying base or socket member 24 which is capable of receiving and holding a lamp bulb or globe 25. An insulated electrical conductor cord 26 is connected with the lamp base 24, preferably through one side thereof, so as to leave the bottom end of said lamp base unobstructed. A fitting 27 having spaced-apart terminals 23 is provided on the outer end of the conductor cord 26.

The clip 20 is made from a piece of flat resilient metal which can be stamped to the shape shown in FIG. 4 to provide a blank 29' having a notch 30 in each end and having two spaced-apart perforations 31 at about the respective locations where the blank is later bent to form the base 21 and side arms 22 and 23. The perforations 31 facilitate bending the blank 29 into a U shape in forming the clip 20. In bending the blank into its final shape the armsZZ and 23 thereof are transversely curved to present concave inner sides which condorm generally to the cylindrical curvature of the lamp socket or base 24. Also the notched tip portions 23 and 22 of these arms are outwardly curved to make it easier to apply the clip 20 over the lamp base or 3 socket 24. The base portion 21 of the clip, between the perforations 31, is curved, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6. Said perforations assist in forming the bend for the arms 22 and 23.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a lamp base 24 mounted in a substantially upright position on a tree branch or limb 32 which has the usual flexible needles 33 thereon, said lamp socket 24- having therein a lamp 25. One preferred method of applying said lamp base or socket 24 and clip to the tree branch 32 is to position the end of the lamp base 24 remote from the lamp against one side of the tree branch and then pass the clip arms 22 and 2-3 over the branch 32 from the opposite side and onto the lamp base or socket 24. The clip arms 22 and 23 are passed over the branch 32 in such a manner as to gather and trap a substantial number of the flexible needles 33 on both sides of the branch between the arms 22 and 23 and the lamp base or socket 24. As the concave resilient arms 22 and 23 of the clip 20' are pressed onto the lamp base 24, they slide over the needles 33 and draw said needles taut without objectionab-ly pulling the needles loose from the tree branch. The clip 20 is pushed firmly onto the branch 32 so that the branch 32 is gripped between the end of the damp base 24 and the base or bottom portion 21 of the clip with the needles 33' from both sides of the branch 32 fairly taut and gripped between the lamp base 24 and the clip arms 22 and 23. The needles thus gripped stabilize and prevent pivotal movement of the lamp base 24 and clip 20 around the branch 32 and the clip 20 is wide enough to prevent much tilting movement of the lamp assembly in a plane longitudinally of the branch. The needles, being secured or grown on opposite sides of the branch or support which branch or support may be termed the primary support, function to hold securely the clip in an upright or desired angular position. The needles provide a compressible medium to increase the friction hold of the clip 20 and the lamp socket. Applying the clip 20 renders the needles taut and so makes them have an efiicient restraining effect in holding the lamp socket. The end notches 39 in the clip arms help in gathering in the needles 33 as the spring clip is passed over a branch 32 and onto a lamp socket 24.

The clip 28 can be used for mounting the lamp base 24, or a member of similar shape, on a support other than a tree branch. For instance, support wires 34, FIGS. 14 and 15, having transverse strips (said strips may be continuous, i.e., not cut into strips) of fabric or like flexible material cemented or otherwise fixedly secured thereto, can be used as a support with the fabric strips 35 drawn between the lamp base 24 and the arms 22 and 23, as shown in FIG. 15, and in a manner similar to the manner in which the needles 33 are drawn between these parts in FIGURES S and 6 and the wires 34- held between the bottom part 21 of the clip and the lower end of the lamp base 24. Thus, both the needles 33 of FIGS. 5 and 6 and the members 35 of FIGS. 14 and 15 are flexible members drawn taut and gripped between the arms 22 and 23 and the lamp socket 24 and which stabilize the lamp assembly and spring clip on the supporting member 32 of FIGS. 5 and 6 or the supporting member 34 of FIGS. 14 and 15.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show a conductor bar 36 which can be used in connection with lamps of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 to provide a readily accessible source of electrical energy for said lamps. FIG. 10 illustrates the use of conductor bars of this form and shows two of said bars 36 secured, one above another, to the trunk 37 of a Christmas tree 37 by tie members 38. Each conductor bar 36 comprises two spaced-apart parallel strips 40 and 41 of electrically conductive material, such as copper, embedded in insulating material 42, such as plastic. A strip 42' of the plastic is disposed between the electrically conductive strips 42 and 41. Access openings 39 are provided at intervals throughout the length of each bar 36 through which the prongs 28 on the fittings 27 of conductor cords 26 can be inserted so that they straddle and make electrical connection with the conductor strips 49 and 41. Two conductor cords 43 and 44 have their wires connected with the conductor strips 46 and 4-1 at the respective ends of each bar 36. The conductor cords 42 and 4-3 have suitable plug-in fittings and 46, respectively, on their outer ends. One of said conductor cords, for instance, the cord 44 can be of short length, *iG. 10, for connection with an adjacent bar 36. The other cord 43 is preferably longer for connection with a wall outlet or the like. Each conductor bar 36 thus provides suitable facilities for the connection therewith of a plurality of individual lamps. FIG. 9 shows the prongs 28 of a fitting 27 in electrical contact with the two conductor strips 49 and 41, it being understood that the fitting 27 is connected by conductor means 26 with a lamp base 24, as shown in FIG. 5. The plug-in openings 39 extend through the bar 36 from side to side so that the fittings can be plugged in from either side of said bar. FIG. 10 shows two of the bars 36 with the openings 39 on the outermost side but it will be understood that the bars may be positioned with the openings 39 laterally rather than outwardly directed.

FIGS. 1], 12 and 13 illustrate a flexible multiple outlet assembly 49, which can be used instead of the conductor bars 3:; to make available a readily accessible source of electrical energy for lamps of the type shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. The assembly shown in said FIGS. ll, 12 and 13 comprises two side-byside insulated conductor wires 50 and 51 which are provided at their respective ends with fittings 53 and 54 having terminal prongs 53' and 54', respectively. The fitting 53 is of the usual construction adapted to be plugged into a wall outlet or the like. The fitting 54 is of suitable shape to be plugged into any one of a plurality of spaced-apart sockets 55 which are carried by the conductor wires 59 and 51. Thus, one multiple outlet assembly 49 can be electrically connected with another similar assembly 49 in the same manner as the two conductor bars 36 are electrically connected by conductor 44 in FIG. 10. Each socket 55 comprises two plastic tubes 56 and 57 having abutting ends which are provided with notches 58 adapted to receive and fit over the insulated wires 50 and 51 and which are permanently cemented together when fully assembled. The parts of the wires 56 and 51 within each socket 55 are stripped bare of their insulation and are spread apart so as to receive therebetween a contact member 69 made up of two spaced-apart plates 61 and 62 of electrically conduclive material separated by a plate 63 of insulating material. Preferably plates 61, 62 and 63 are adhesively secured together and each wire 50 and 51 is attached by solder 64 to the electrically conductive plate 61 or 62 adjacent thereto.

Assembly is facilitated by using two tubular members 56 and 57 in making each socket 55, the wires 50 and 51 being provided with the contact members and the tubular members 56 and 57 then being slipped over the contact members and adhesively joined end to end.

The contact member 60 projects substantially equal distances in each direction from the wires 50 and 51 toward the open ends of the tubular members 56 and 57 so that each socket 55 forms a dual receptacle capable of receiving two lamp cord fittings 27 of the form shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 with their contact prongs 2S straddling the contact member 69 and electrically contacting the espective plates 61 and 62. The fittings 27 are cylindrical and of slightly smaller diameter than the inside of the tubular members 56 and 57, and they fit snugly within these tubular members and substantially close the outer ends of the sockets, thereby minimizing danger of fire from arcing. Also, preferrably the tubes 56 and 57 and contact members 60 and prongs 28 of fittings 27 are relatively dimensioned so that the body portions of the fittings 27 will always be within trie outer ends of the tubes 56 0 and 57 (sec uppermost fitting 27, FIG. 13) at the time the electrical connection of prongs 28 with plates 61 and 62 is made or broken. This minimizes fire hazard due to arcing.

The multiple outlet assembly shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 is used in a manner similar to tie previously described conductor bars 36 by suspending it in any suitable manner in a Christmas tree and plugging lights of the form disclosed in FIGS. 5 and 6 into the sockets 55.

From the foregoing various arrangements and embodiments of the present invention, and principles and modes of operation set forth with respect thereto, it will be seen that various other modifications thereof may be undertaken within the skill of the art within the scope of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A lamp bulb mounting mechanism for mounting lamp bulbs uprightly, a support having laterally disposed flexible members; a lamp bulb socket having a cylindrical stem portion; a single piece U-shaped spring clip formed of a base integral with two resilient arms of substantially the same size and shape directly resiliently joined by said base, said joining portion of said base contributing to providing resiliency, said arms extending in the same direction, parallei and opposite to each other, gripping in operation therebetween the cylindrical stem portion of said electrical lamp bulb socket with said support held against the inner side of said base of said clip and the bottom of said lamp bulb socket, with said laterally oppositely disposed flexible members of said support pressed substantially longitudinally under tension against opposite sides of said lamp bulb socket by said resilient arms in bringing to bear longitudinally counter directed restraining forces on opposite sides of said lamp bulb socket when said clip is pressed upwardly in engagement with the inner base side of the clip engaging the support; an insulated electrical source conductor means having a plurality of spark shielded outlets; and conductors connecting said lamp bulb socket to said conductor means.

2. A Christmas tree lamp bulb mounting mechanism comprising a Christmas tree having support limbs with needles growing on opposite sides of said support limbs; a plurality of electrical lamp bulb sockets having a cylindrical stern portion; a plurality of substantially U-shaped single piece spring clips each having two spaced apart resilient arms joined by an integral base and receiving therebetween a pine tree branch as a support, the tree branch in transverse section being gripped between the inside bottom of the clip and the adjacent end of the socket with some of the needles from opposite sides of the tree branch being tensioned and gripped between the outside of the socket and the inside of the resilient arms of the clip, the needles stabilizing the socket and clip on the support; an electrical conductor having muitiple spark shielded outlets, said conductor being supported longi tudinally on the trunk of the tree; and an independent conductor cord electrically connecting each lamp socket with one of said shielded outlets.

3. in a lamp bulb mounting mechanism for a Christmas tree, a single piece U-shaped spring clip formed of a base arms portion with two resilient arms integral thereon extending in the same direction parallel and opposite to each other and at substantially right angles to said base portion, said arms gripping the cylindrical stem portion of an electrical lamp bulb socket with the oppositely growing needles of a supporting tree limb bent upwardly between the lamp bulb socket and the inside surface of said resilient arms, said limb being held between said base portion and the bottom of said lamp bulb socket in providing counter-cooperating holding forces on each side of said lamp bulb socket.

References (Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,181,533 Kraft May 2, 1916 2,169,067 Dorsey Aug. 8, 1939 2,576,165 Wood Nov. 27, 1951 2,599,303 Ward lune 3, 1952 

1. A LAMP BULB MOUNTING MECHANISM FOR MOUNTING LAMP BULBS UPRIGHTLY, A SUPPORT HAVING LATERALLY DISPOSED FLEXIBLE MEMBERS; A LAMP BULB SOCKET HAVING A CYLINDRICAL STEM PORTION; A SINGLE PIECE U-SHAPED SPRING CLIP FORMED OF A BASE INTEGRAL WITH TWO RESILIENT ARMS OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME SIZE AND SHAPE DIRECTLY RESILIENTLY JOINED BY SAID BASE, SAID JOINING PORTION OF SAID BASE CONTRIBUTING TO PROVIDING RESILIENCY, SAID ARMS EXTENDING IN THE SAME DIRECTION, PARALLEL AND OPPOSITE TO EACH OTHER, GRIPPING IN OPERATION THEREBETWEEN THE CYLINDRICAL STEM PORTION OF SAID ELECTRICAL LAMP BULB SOCKET WITH SAID SUPPORT HELD AGAINST THE INNER SIDE OF SAID BASE OF SAID CLIP AND THE BOTTOM OF SAID LAMP BULB SOCKET, WITH SAID LATERALLY OPPOSITELY DISPOSED FLEXIBLE MEMBERS OF SAID SUPPORT PRESSED SUBSTANTIALLY LONGITUDINALLY UNDER TENSION AGAINST OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID LAMP BULB SOCKET BY SAID RESILIENT ARMS IN BRINGING TO BEAR LONGITUDINALLY COUNTER DIRECTED RESTRAINING FORCES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID LAMP BULB SOCKET WHEN SAID CLIP IS PRESSED UPWARDLY IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER BASE SIDE OF THE CLIP ENGAGING THE SUPPORT; AN INSULATED ELECTRICAL SOURCE CONDUCTOR MEANS HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPARK SHIELDED OUTLETS; AND CONDUCTORS CONNECTING SAID LAMP BULB SOCKET TO SAID CONDUCTOR MEANS. 